Fishing rig for deep wells



July 28, 1931. A. F. MEYER 1,816,602

FISHING RIG FOR DEEP WELLS Filed May 21 1927 INVENT'OR.

Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED, STATES ALFRED r. MEYER, or YALE; OKLAHOMA FISHING RIG Foa mswms' Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to improvements in fishing rigs for deep wells, and refers more particularly to an electrical generator unit connected through an electrical cable with a 5 magnet which is lowered into deep wells, such as oil wells, to clear the well of steel or iron obstructions such as drills which have broken during the drilling operation,

. iron slugs or other metallic obstructions which hinder and delay drilling operations.

The novelty in the invention lies primarily in the use of an electrical generating unit for transmitting strong magnetic forces to a magnet which is lowered into the well,

and which draws to it any iron or steel obstruction in the casing.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the apparatus with parts in section and parts a broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the electric cable reel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a single contact magnet. V

i Fig. at is an enlarged detail of a double contact magnet used at the end of the electrical cable, and

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, at 1 is diagrammatically shown an engine which is direct connected to a generator 2, by means of a shaft 3. Interposed in this shaft is a clutch 4 for disengaging the engine from the electrical generator. At 5 is shown a cable reel and interposed in the wire connections between the generator and the reel is an ammeter 6, and shock coils 7. A derrick 8, positioned above the well, which is enclosed by the casing 9, is shown in reduced size relative to the equipment forming the subject matter in the present in vention.

At 10 is diagrammatically shown a reel, upon which the sand line 11 is coiled. This sand line passes over a shive or block near the top of the derrick, and is used for lowering and raising the magnet 12 in and out of the well.

' The wire connections 13 and 14 between the shock coils and the cable winch are con- 1927. Serial No. 193,264.

nected to brushes 15, and 16 upon theends of the winch or reel, each of the brushes having connection with the two wire cable 17', coiled upon the reel"; thus the power from the generator is transmitted through the shock coils to the brushes on the outside of the winch, and thence to the end of the cable 17.) i The operation of the mechanismis briefly as follows The motor or internal combus tion engine 1 is run at the desired speedto drive the generator at a proper speed toproduce the amount of electrical energy necessary to build up the desired magnetic force in the magnetlQ. .Theengine being direct connected to the generator, drives the latter at a speed proper for the electrical ener y required. This current is registered on t e ammeter shownat 6. Shock coils 7 are interposed 'inthe circuit to prevent excess load being imposed directly upon theg'enerator/ Whena cone from a rock drill, or a broken fish-tail bit becomes-lodged in the casing, the magnet 12, to which is attached the two-wire cable 17, is lowered into the casing, the cable 17 "passing over a=snatch blockattached to the derrick to supplya fair lead for the cable into the casing. I The weight of the magnet is supported, assuggested, by the sand"line- 11,'whi.ch is used to lower and raise the magnet in and-out of the casing. When the magnet has.'been loweredt-o contact the iron or steel obstruction in the casing,the;electrical energy is transmitted to themagnet, setting up strong magnetic forces which cause the obstruction to be rigidly attached to the magnet. The sand lineis then reeled in and the magnet and obstructingelement are broughtto' the surface where the latter is removed from' the magnetand the-casing thereby cleared; Either a single contact or a double contact magnetmaybe-usei as desired-.- v y The operation ofthe reel upon which the sand line .is coiled ispreferably synchronized, with :the drive which reels in and pays out the electric cable mounted upon the-reel I 5. This, drive is diagrammatically shown inthe form of a shaft 18, and gearbox 19, positioned at the opposite end of the winch 1' or reel to that on which the ring connections are mounted. The shaft 18 is rotated through bevel gears from the main drive shaft 3 and is connected by bevel gears to the shaft upon which the reel 10 is mounted.

By the use of this mechanism a fishing job fora broken bit, iron slugs, or any other steel or iron obstruction, is made very simple. The unit may be mounted upon a conveyance, such as an automobile truck, in or der that it may be transported from place to place as required. i

It has been found to be a great time saver, and altogether satisfactory in removing obstructions from oil well casings which have heretofore caused serious shut down periods and delay in drilling operations.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fishing rig for deep wells, the combination with a source of power, direct connected to an electric generator unit, of an electro magnet connected by electric cables to the generator, a reel upon which the cables are wound, insulated rings on the spool of the reel, brushes contacting the insulated rings and connected to the cables, and separate means for raising and lowering the magnet in the well.

2. In a fishing rig for deep wells, the combination with a source of power, direct connected to an electric generator unit, oi an electro magnet connected by electric cables to the generator, a reel upon which the cables are wound, insulated rings on the spool of the reel, brushes contacting the insulated rings and connected to the cables, and separate means for raising and lower ing the magnet in the well synchronized with the reel upon which the electric cable is wound, whereby the means for raising and lowering the magnet function simultaneously with the cable reel.

3. In a fishing rig for deep wells, the com- 'bination with a source of power direct connected to an electric generator, of a magnet connected by electric cables to the generator, a reelupon which the cables are wound, serving to pay out and reelin the cable as the magnet is lowered and raised in the well,

separate means for raising and lowering the magnet, synchronized with the reel upon which the cable is wound, current transmitting means arranged between the generator and the cables including ring connections on the-spool of the cable reel, brushes contacting with the rings and connected with the generator for maintaining a continuous circuit.

4. In a fishing rig for deep wells, the combination with a source of power direct connected to an electric generator, of a magnet connected by electric cables to the generator, a reel upon which the cables are wound, serving to pay out and reel in the cable as the magnet is lowered and raised in reel.

ALFRED F. MEYER. 

